We are currently seeking Trustees to join the Ensemble ‘84 Board. We offer training, skills development, mentoring and learning - and above all, the chance for people from County Durham to make world-class theatre.
Ensemble 84 is a registered charity. Our Board of Trusees ensure that we deliver on our mission, aims and objectives. Board members are independent external voices with specialist expertise. Our Board is led by an independent Chair. We currently have 2 other Trustees.
Our Board has responsibility for reviewing and approving our funding applications and monitoring documents including submissions to the Charity Commission. The Board approves our annual budgets, our audited financial statements, and risk register. Our Board sets the priorities for the organisation, the direction we move in, and they represent Without Walls at sector and other events.
- A belief in the potential for arts and culture to transform lives and communities.
- Some experience and understanding of governance roles, the responsibilities of Board members and a desire to help lead an organisation.
- A commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti racism, and an understanding of, or a willingness to learn, how these are applied in the arts.
- Understanding of, or a willingness to learn about, arts funding, in particular from Arts Council England, and the reporting requirements around this.
- A willingness to listen and learn from fellow Board members and other colleagues and work collectively for the benefit of a wider organisation.
For this Board recruitment, we are specifically looking for exceptional people with the following experiences or skills:
Professional Finance – Senior financial expertise within charities, not-for-profit, or arts organisations, particularly audit, accountancy, and financial oversight (e.g. qualified accountant, auditor, finance manager).
Legal Expertise – Professional experience in property, commercial law, charity law, or intellectual property.
Fundraising – Strategic experience in income generation, trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, or individual giving.
Theatre Sector Knowledge – Strong understanding of the theatre and wider performing arts landscape.
Marketing & Communications – Experience in branding, audience development, digital communications, or public profile building.
Local Knowledge & Influence – Connections within the local community and the ability to act as an ambassador.
Advocacy – Confidence and networks to champion the organisation regionally or nationally.
Our home is in Horden, County Durham but this post will be available to work remotely. We would appreciate the occasional visit to get a feel of the work, attend performances and to meet the ensemble.
Formed in 2024, our work embodies the power of theatre to be innovative, courageous and resonant - and above all how it can be centred on the experiences of the people and communities that inspire and make it.
We offer training, skills development, mentoring and learning - and above all the chance for people from County Durham to make world class theatre. Over the next decade our work will connect with venues, festivals, community centres across the world - where we will present new projects that tell the stories found within this rich county.
We’re led by Mark Dornford-May and draw on his inspirational work with Isango Ensemble, a Theatre company rooted within the Townships of Cape Town (South Africa) and winning wide acclaim through touring the world.
From our home in Horden, County Durham, we offer a platform of hope, expression and positive change, amplifying unheard voices and harnessing untapped potential within our communities.
Ensemble ‘84 is proud to be a key part of Into the Light a transformative programme that will drive long-lasting growth in County Durham through creative collaboration. Over the next three years, it will cultivate talent, widen access to creative education, enhance skills, and break down barriers in the creative industries.
